Questions?
You’ll get the best menstrual cup answers here…

It’s time to put yourself and your body first. According to our fan(nie)s, Hello Cups are the world’s most comfortable menstrual cup. They’re made of top notch medical-grade TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) which we import from world’s leading manufacturer in Germany. They are free of latex, silicone, perfumes, bleaches and all other nasties. We guarantee they will make having your period so much easier and cheaper. Unlike tampons which absorb your natural vjayjay moisture, your Hello Cup won’t dry you out or leave nasty bleached fibres behind.

Also, because you can reuse your Hello Cup for years – you won’t have to do that late night dash to the supermarket when your period shows up unexpectedly. No more rummaging around in your handbag for a tampon only to find it’s burst through its wrapper. No more stuffing tampons up your sleeve at work to hide the fact you’re off to the loo to change your tampon. Your Hello Cup holds three times more than tampons – making heavier days just that much easier.

The Hello Cup comes in three sizes – XS (extra small), S/M (small/medium) and L (large or ‘lovely’). Our XS cup is is our smallest, softest cup. It’s the perfect choice for teenagers, petite users or those who prefer a ‘mini’ tampon. Our S/M is our ‘one size fits most’ menstrual cup. We recommend it for users under 35 – regardless of whether they have had children or not. It’s worth noting that we find physically fit people are often best suited to the S/M regardless of age. Our L is best for those over 35 who feel it’s a bit more roomy up there (possibly thanks to pushing out a small human or two). Sometimes finding the best size for you can be a bit of trial and error. If you’re uncertain about what size to choose we offer a discounted ‘pick ‘n’ mix’ option to help take the guess work out of things. This allows you to choose a Hello Cup box with any two sizes inside for $69NZD. Many find they can wear two sizes anyway and opt for a smaller sized Hello Cup on light days and a larger one on heavy days.

The diameter of the XS is 38mm and the overall length including the toggle is 57mm. It holds 17.5ml (to the holes).

The diameter of the S/M is 41mm and the overall length including the toggle is 59mm. It holds 21mls (to the holes).

The diameter of the L is 45mm and the overall length including the toggle is 64mm. It holds 28ml (to the holes).

We recommend a shallow punchdown fold for Hello Cup. When we say ‘shallow’ – make sure the fold doesn’t go all the way to the bottom of the cup. To do a shallow punchdown fold you basically pushing a small indent into one side of the cup – push in then scoop it backwards. One side of your cup will be fully up and the side with the punch in it will still have it’s base untouched.

YES! While some women get the hang of them straight away, for others it may take a bit of practice – in the same way tampons take a bit of practice the first time around. Once you’ve got the hang of it you’ll find your Hello Cup is super easy to use! Sometimes first-times users like to try inserting it in the shower. The water helps with the lubrication and you don’t have to worry about any mess. New users can also use water-based lubricants if they feel they need to.

We recommend a shallow punchdown fold as the best fold for the Hello Cup. Once it is inserted, give your cup a tug to help it form a seal. While you are getting used to it, don’t be afraid to move your finger around the edge of the cup to make sure it is fully opened. Trust us, with a bit of practice, you’ll be a Hello Cup boss in no time.

Hello Cups are made from top-notch medical grade thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). They contain no rubber, latex, BPAs, heavy metals or other nasties. Colours used are certified food grade and comply with EU and FDA standards. Hello Cups are recyclable and are FDA registered.

Way less than you would have to with tampons – but everyone’s flow is different.

On heavy days you might need to empty your Hello Cup up to four times a day but later in your cycle you will likely find you only need to take it out once a day. It is not recommended you leave your Hello Cup in for more than 12 hours – ideally you should empty it every 8 hours. You can wear your Hello Cup overnight as well as while swimming and exercising.

How does Hello Go work? Hello Go uses amazing technology from manufacturers, Zoono. Once dry, Hello GO resembles a layer of microscopic pins that attract, pierce and kill pathogens – the same principle as a pin popping a balloon. And in the same manner that the burst balloon cannot be reformed, neither can the pathogens – this means NO resistance and NO superbugs! Unlike traditional sanitisers that kill bacteria by poison or high alcohol content, Hello Go is a food safe, water-based surface sanitiser.

Is Hello Go okay to use internally? Yes, Zoono has a pH of 6.9, close to pH 7 which is neutral (water is classified as pH7). It won’t affect the pH balance in your vagina. Once dry it forms an antimicrobial layer and is bound to the surface, so it doesn’t leach and can be used with confidence.

Will Hello Go wash or rub off? No. Hello Go will remain active on the surface of your skin / cup for 24 hours. Normal washing of hands and drying with a towel will not affect efficacy. A single application ofHello Go will act like a glove, providing an invisible bond to the skin for 24 hours without the need for reapplication.

Should I apply Hello Go more than once a day? You don’t have to. It will remain active on the skin until natural exfoliation has occurred and this usually takes 24 hours or so (varies due to factors like perspiration). If you feel you want to apply more often that is fine too.

Will Hello Go will discolour my clothes? No. Hello Go is a liquid that is invisible on application. It forms an antimicrobial barrier on the skin and will not stain clothing nor discolour skin.

Will Hello Go dry out my hands and cause chapped skin? No. Unlike other hand sanitisers that contain up to 70% alcohol and can chap the hands and dry the skin, Hello Go is a mild but effective. On application, Hello Go will leave your hands soft and moisturised.

When Hello Go is applied to my hands will it allow the skin to function normally (eg. produce its own oil and sweat)? Yes. Hello GO does not inhibit the normal function of the skin. The antimicrobial layer produced by application of Hello Go bonds to the skin but is permeable to gases which allows the skin to “breathe” normally.

Has Hello Go been tested on a variety of skin types? Yes. It has been dermatologically tested in Germany on a range of skin types (older people, young people, fair skinned and dark-skinned people etc) – with zero reactions recorded.

How do you know Hello Go works? Hello Go’s manufacturer Zoono has done numerous successful tests with independent labs around the world to prove it is effective. The technology can also be proven with an ATP device which involves taking swabs (before and after treatment) from the surface and measuring the results. ATP is a globally accepted method of testing for pathogenic presence and is commonly used by QA personnel in all major food and beverage production facilities.

How do I use Hello GO? Spray your hands and / or cup and allow to dry. Easy peasy.

What’s the techy lowdown on Hello Go? Hello Go doesn’t use chemicals, poisons or alcohol to kill germs. Hello Go kills via a mechanical process. Hello Go leaves an invisible shield which resembles an antimicrobial spike or pin that pierces the microorganism, bursting it like a balloon. The shield carries on working. The active ingredient: <1% is a quaternary ammonium compound – these are commonly used antibacterial agents found in products such as toothpaste, contact lens products, cosmetics, soaps etc. This quaternary ammonium compound originates from sand. Pretty awesome, eh?

What are some fun facts I can entertain my friends with about Hello Go? Who doesn’t love a friend who is a fountain of knowledge?

Try these to score some points:

Hello Go is alcohol free, low-tox & dermatologically tested

Hello Go is less toxic than vitamin C & coffee

Hello Go is water-based (99% purified water!)

Hello Go is environmentally friendly

Hello Go surface products have food safety approvals in Australia and New Zealand

The risk of getting TSS (toxic shock syndrome) while using a menstrual cup is extremely low. TSS is a rare but serious condition cause by toxins released by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Symptoms include fever, chills, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, or rash. If you experience any of these symptoms – remove your Hello Cup and seek medical advice. To keep yourself safe, ensure you do not leave your cup in for more than 12 hours. TSS can only occur if the toxin enters your bloodstream. This can happen if you have an abrasion – which could be caused by sex, nails, tampons or cups being inserted without sufficient vaginal lubrication. If you are aware you have an abrasion, avoid wearing a your cup (or tampon) until it has healed. Wash your hands before and after changing your cup. If you have access to a sink, you can wash your cup after each use with hot water and mild soap. If you are in a loo with no hand basin – it is fine to simply wipe out your cup and reinsert. It is important to sterilise your cup at the end of your cycle. If you have two cups you may wish to alternate them and sterilise after each use. To sterilise your cup, boil in for three minutes, sterilise in the microwave (as you would a baby bottle – specific times and settings will depend on your microwave) or use a sterilising tablet. Sterilising tablets are a great option if you are in shared accomodation. Just soak your menstrual cup with 1/4 of a sterilisation tablet in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Sterilisation tablets (a common brand is Milton) can be found in most supermarkets and chemists (normally in the baby section). If you have any questions email us: hello@thehellocup.com

As long as your Hello Cup is the right size, is inserted correctly and emptied when needed, it shouldn’t leak. However, like tampons leaks can happen from time to time – especially if your cup hasn’t opened out properly. To check your Hello Cup is open, run your finger around the base of the cup. It should feel even right around. If you feel an indent, try twisting your cup around a couple of times. It also pays to give the toggle a couple of gentle tugs after inserting your Hello Cup to help ensure a suction has been formed. Some users chose to wear a liner as a safe guard while they get used to cup life, but most find cups to be far more reliable than tampons. If you feel you’ve done everything and your cup is still leaking – it may well be a sign it’s too big (if there’s not enough room for a cup to unfold it can stay folded), the ‘punch’ of your punchdown fold need to be shallower or you need to tweak the angle you are inserting your cup on.

Unlike tampons and pads, the blood doesn’t mix with the air. It is this combo that can make having your period literally a stink time. Cups are pretty much odour free. Yay. If you do find your cup a bit wiffy, try changing it more regularly. Here are a few other tips to combat odour:

Dry your cup in indirect sunlight for a few hours

Boil your cup for three minutes (like you do at the end of each cycle)

Soak your cup in a mix of lemon juice and water or a 1/2 & 1/2 white vinegar and water solution for an hour – then rinse throughly

It’s easy to look after and clean your Hello Cup. Remember to wash your hands before you insert or removing your Hello Cup. After removing your Hello Cup, empty it and rinse under the tap with cold water. Cold water can help prevent stains from setting in. If you’re not near a sink, it’s fine to simply empty your the contents of your cup into the loo, wipe your Hello Cup out with toilet paper and reinsert. Otherwise, you can clean in with water and a mild soap (just make sure all soap residue is rinsed off). While you can leave your Hello Cup in for up to 12 hours, we recommend changing it every 8 hours if you can. If you are traveling in countries where tap water is not safe to drink, we recommend rinsing your Hello Cup with bottled water or using our Hello Go sanitising cup and hand spray.

At the end of your period finishes, sterilise your cup before you put it away. To do this we recommend soaking your Hello Cup in a glass of water containing 1/4 sterilising tablet for 15 minutes or boiling your Hello Cup for 3 minutes. Make sure your Hello Cup is fully dry before you store it.

Don’t panic – it’s basically a dead end street up there and your Hello Cup has just moved up a little higher. During the course of a day your cervix can move up and down and your cup can move up and down with it. If you can’t feel the toggle of your Hello Cup, the best thing to do is to sit on the loo and bear down and push using your pelvic floor muscles – a bit like you are doing a poo. Too much info? We’re all friends though, right? This will help your cup to move down and you should now be able to reach it. While it’s easier said than done sometimes, the key is to relax – the more tense you are, the more your muscles will clench around your Hello Cup making it harder to remove your cup. The more you use your menstrual cup, the easier and faster removal will be. If you are still having issues, drop us a line at: hello@thehellocup.com

Like anything in life, you’re likely to be able to find cheaper menstrual cups. Often the cheaper cups are made from inferior materials and are more flimsy – making it harder to for the cup to pop open and achieve a good seal. It was this experience that drove us to produce The Hello Cup. We want something we would feel happy for our own children to use.

Your Hello Cup will last several years – so again, compared with single use sanitary products you will save money and while helping our planet at the same time. Bonus!

Using a Hello Cup is very clean because blood is captured inside the cup. While you’re getting the hang of things and nailing your technique, you might find it’s a bit messy – but not messy like a scene from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To remove the cup, locate the base and squeeze it gently. This will release the suction. Pull the cup out keeping it upright. Simply tip the contents down the toilet, rinse or wipe out the cup and reinsert. Simple.

Yes you can. Care needs to be take to ensure your Hello Cup isn’t touching your IUD strings. We recommend talking to your doctor about using your cup with an IUD. They may want to shorten the strings to ensure they don’t interfere with the cup.

New Zealand orders are sent via New Zealand Couriers and will arrive within 1 – 2 business days. We send Monday – Thursday.

Australian orders are sent via New Zealand Courier and Australia Post. Estimated delivery time is 7 – 10 business days.

Global shipping orders are sent via New Zealand Courier and your country’s local postal service or via international courier. Estimated delivery time is 10 working days. Hello Cup is not responsible for taxes and customs duties charged by some countries.

All orders received are posted within 24 hours (Monday to Friday).

You’ll receive an email confirmation when your order is received. You’ll also receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number once your order has been processed. Sometimes hotmail and gmail addresses don’t like our emails – so if you haven’t heard from us, please check your spam or junk folders.

Our emails with order receipts and tracking information occasionally end up in spam / junk folders – so don’t think we are ignoring you! If you have any questions about your order email us: hello@thehellocup.com

Hello Cups are the perfect travelling companion! We wish we’d known about cups when we were backpacking around the world! Not only will you have more money to spend but you’ll have more room in your bags and you’ll never be caught short no matter where in the world you are. Brilliant.

There is absolutely no reason teenagers can’t use cups. Users can start using Hello Cups from when they first get their period. We have plenty of teenage Hello Cups fans. Our XS Hello Cup is our smallest and softest cup and a great starting point for younger, first-time users. Some websites suggest menstrual cups may interfere with the hymen. Essentially inserting a cup is no different to inserting a tampon. The hymen will stretch and / or break naturally at some point, not necessarily during sex. Some people prefer not to use cups or tampons for personal or cultural reasons.